Storing device for transported flexible elements



April 4, 1967 3,312,381

STORING DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTED FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS Filed April 23, 1964 H. GUTTLER ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

April 4, 1967 H. GUTTLER ETAL 3,312,381

STORING DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTED FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS Filed April 25, 1964 4 Sheet-Sheet 2 April 4, 1967 H. GUTTLER ETAL 3,312,381

STORING DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTED FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS Filed April 23, 1964 I v v 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 7

April 1967 H. GUTTLER ETAL 3,312,381

STORING DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTED FLEXIBLE'ELEMENTS Filed April 23, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 9

United States Patent 19 Claims. a. 226-118) The present invention relates to a storing device for a transported flexible element, and more particularly to a storing device for continuously storing a silver, slubbing, roving or the like while the same is transported between machines performing operations thereon.

If a roving is directly supplied from one machine to a following machine, it is either necessary to supply the roving at exactly the same speed at which it is taken up by the following machine, or a storing device must be provided between successive machines for storing a length of the roving, or like elongated flexible element so that different supply and take-up speeds are compensated. Roving cans, or devices by which open loops of the roving are deposited on a conveyor are known for temporarily storing the roving. The apparatus of the prior art requires a great deal of space, and the loose or freely suspended loops of the roving are frequently damaged.

It is one object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of known constructions for temporarily storing a transported elongated flexible element, such as a roving, sliver, or slubbing and to provide a storing device by which the flexible element is temporarily stored in an orderly fashion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a storing device for a transported roving in which the roving is arranged in the shape of a coil within a tubular member so that any damage to the roving is prevented.

Another object of the invention is to control the speed of the delivery into the storing device, and the speed of delivery out of the storing device in such a manner that the stored length of roving neither exceeds, nor drops below a predetermined length.

Another object of the invention is to supply a roving from below into a vertical tubular member in such a manner that the roving forms a coil in the same, and to transport the roving out of the upper end of the tubular member to the next following machine.

With these objects in view, the present invention proposes to feed and supply a flexible element, such as a roving, into the lower end of a substantially vertical tubular member so that the roving is stored therein and rises toward the upper end of the tubular member, from where portions of the stored roving are continuously taken by transporting means by which the roving is transported to another machine.

One embodiment of the invention comprises a tubular member, which is preferably vertical and open at the lower end; at least one rotary member located at the open end and having a guide means spaced from the axis, and preferably transporting rollers in the region of the guide means, and moving along a circular path within the region of the open end so that during rotation of the rotary member, the roving is coiled and advanced through the open end into the tubular member in which a length of the roving is stored in coiled shape; and transporting means for transporting stored portions of the roving out of the other upper end of the tubular member.

In one embodiment of the invention, the rotary mem-' ber has an axis coinciding with the vertical axis of a circular wall of the tubular member, and in order to prevent ice rotation of the coiled roving with the rotary member, the inner surface of the tubular member is provided with axially extending ribs which frictionally engage the stored coil.

In order to obtain a spiral-shaped or helical stored coil, a first rotary member rotates about the axis of the tubular member, and a second rotary member is mounted on the first rotary member for rotation about another axis parallel to the axis of the first member and spaced from the same, and when both rotary members rotate simultaneously, a spiral-shaped or helical coil is formed which upwardly advances into the tubular member. Such a coil can also be obtained by revolving the tubular member in a circular motion in relation to the rotary member about an axis parallel to the axis of the rotary member.

Another embodiment of the invention provides a tubular member of elongated cross section, which may be elliptic. The tubular member is reciprocated in the direction of the longer dimension of its cross section so that a zig-zag shaped coil is formed by the rotary member during reciprocation of the tubular member. The diameter of the rotary member corresponds to the shorter dimension of the cross section of the tubular member, and is an integer fraction of the longer dimension so that the entire surface of the cross section of the tubular member is taken up by the coiled roving. I

Sensing means are preferably provided for sensing the highest and the lowest permissible level of the upper end I of the coiled roving, and control the transporting means to prevent an overflowing of the roving from the upper end of the tubular member, or the using up of the entire length of rovings stored in the tubular member. The speed control may consist in stopping of the transporting means.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a rotary member provided in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of rotary members used in the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an elevation of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a top view of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 9.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a stationary frame 1 supports a rotary member 2 for rotation about a vertical axis coinciding with the axis of a tubular member 10 which has upper and lower open ends, and rests on the disc-shaped top of rotary member 2. Lever means are secured to the outside of tubular member 10 and mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot 12 secured to frame 1 so that tubular member 10 can be tilted away from the rotary member 2 but is held nonrotatably.

A roving 30 is supplied from a roving frame or similar machine through a thread guide 6 which is mounted on an arm secured to supporting frame 1. The roving is J threaded through a guide opening 3 adjacent the circular periphery of rotary member 2 and passes into the interior of tubular member 10. A pair of transporting rollers 4 ismounted on the rotary member in the region of the guide opening 3 so that the roving is transported through the lower open end into the interior of the tubular member at a point determined by the position of guide opening 3 which is located in close proximity to the inner surface of tubular member 10. Other transporting means in the form of a pair of transporting rollers 21 are located in the region of the upper end of tubular member 16 and transport the roving out of the tubular member 1%.

During rotation of rotary member 2, the transporting rollers 4, one of which is resiliently urged against the other, rotate about the axis of rotary member 2 so that circular loops are formed by the roving transported into the interior of the tubular member. Each loop raises the loop before it so that a cylindrical coil is progressively formed in the tubular member of the supplied roving as long as transporting means 21 do not operate, or operate at a lower speed than transporting rollers 3.

Sensing means are provided for determining the highest level and the lowest level of the coil 26 formed of the roving, and include a pair of lamps 24, or other sources of light, which produce beams of light Hand 23 passing diametrically through openings in tubular member and falling onto photocells 25 provided at corresponding levels, unless a portion of the coil 26 interrupts the beam. When the upper end of the coil reaches the beam 22 and interrupts the same, the roving frame, or corresponding machine preparing the roving for the spinning machine, is stopped so that no roving is supplied to the tubular member. When transporting means 21 have reduced the height of the coil, the upper level of the same drops below the lower beams 23 so that the lower photocell 25 produces an impulse which again starts the supply of roving 30 to transporting rollers 4. Photoelectric sensing means are advantageously provided at an intermediate level, to reduce the speed of delivery of the roving 30 to the storing device. The mannerin which the photoelectric sensing means control the roving frame which supplies the roving is well known, and consequently not illustrated in the drawing.

If the friction of the coil 26 on the inner surface of tubular member 10 would be too low, the entire coil may rotate with rotary member 2 relative to the inner surface of the stationary tubular member 10. In order to prevent this inoperative condition, it is preferred to provide axially extending inwardly projecting ribs on the inner surface of tubular member 10 which produce great friction on the outer surface of the coil, and prevent turning of the coil relative to the tubular member so that the coil slides on the top surface of the rotary member 2 rather than on the inner surface of the tubular member 10.

Due to the fact that the inner surface of tubular member 10, and the outer surface of coil 26 are both circular, a relative turning motion is possible. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, a coil is formed which is spiral-shaped or helical so that a relative turning between the stored coil and the stationary tubular member is not possible. The tubular member 10 is again of circular shape, and rests on a rotary member 7 which is rotatable about an axis 8 coinciding with the vertical axis of tubular member 10. A second rotary member 2' is mounted on rotary member 7 for rotation about an axis 5' which is parallel with axis 8. The construction of rotary member 2 corresponds to the construction or rotary member 2 of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and member 2 has a guide opening 3 and a pair of transporting rollers 4 in the region of guide opening 3 for transporting the roving 3i). An arm secured to rotary member 7 has an eye 6' located in the axis 5', and another arm is secured to frame portion 1 and has an eye 9 located in axis 8. The roving 3.0 passes through eyes 9, 6 and guide opening 3 into the lower open end of tubular member 10. The portion of the roving 4- between eyes 9 and 6' will move along a cone surface with an apex at the eye 9 and the base bounded by the circular path of the eye 6', and the roving portion between eye 6' and guide opening 3 will move along another cone surface which, however, will travel around axis 8 with its apex located at the eye 6.

During rotation of rotary member 7 about axis 8, guide opening 3 and transporting rollers 4 will move about a circular path having its center in axis 8, but since rotary member 2' simultaneously rotates about axis 5, guide opening 3 and transporting rollers 4 will also move about axis 5, and the composite motion of guide opening 3 will correspond to the spiral shown in FIG. 5, but since the roving is transported by transporting rollers 4, the spiral-shaped loops will be progressively advanced and raised into the interior of the tubular member 10 so that the roving forms a helical coil 26' in tubular member 10. The diameter of tubular member 10 corresponds substantially to the sum of the distances between axes 5' and 8 and between guide opening 3 and axis 5 so that the outermost portions of the helical coil 26' are laid adjacent the inner surface of tubular member 10, spaced a small distance from the same. The spiral-shaped coil 26 makes better use of the available volume of the interior of tubular member 10, as compared with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3. Furthermore, the turning moment transmitted by the coil to the inner surface of the tubular member 10 is reduced in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6 since the turning moments transmitted by the rotary members 7 and 2' to the coil 26 are partly directed in opposite directions and consequently compensate each other to a certain extent.

While in the embodiment of FIG. 1, photoelectric sensing means are shown for the purpose of maintaining a substantially constant length of the stored coil, FIG. 4 shows mechanical sensing means serving the same purpose, and it will be understood that the mechanical sensing means of FIG. 4 and the electrical sensing means of FIG, 1 may be interchangeably used in all embodiments of the invention. A sensing lever 28 is mounted on tubular member It) and is urged by a spring 27 to the illustrated sensing position. A switch arm of a switch 29 is secured to sensing lever 28 and moves with the same so that switch 29 is closed when the coiled roving reaches such a height as to displace sensing lever 28 against the action of spring 27 to an actuated position. When switch 29 closes, it energizes a relay which by its contacts stops the machine delivering the roving 30 to the device, and so prevents an overflowing or spilling of the roving over the top of tubular member 10. When switch 29 opens again after the length of the coiled roving has decreased, the supplying machine is again started. It is also possible to provide second sensing means at a lower level of tubular member 16, as described with reference to FIG. 1 for the purpose of starting the machine by which the roving is supplied. In this event, a holding contact for the relay is provided.

The embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 10 prevents a sliding of the coiled roving in the tubular member in a different manner. The tubular member 11 has an elongated cross section which may be oval or elliptic, or have two partcircular lateral walls, and two straight front and rear walls. The rotary member 2 is constructed as explained with reference to FIG. 1, and is mounted on a fixed frame 1 for rotation about the axis 5. A fixed eye 6 and a guide opening 3 in rotary member 2 guide the roving, and a pair of transporting rollers 4 transport the roving into the lower end of the tubular member 11.

Tubular member 11 is non-rotatably mounted on frame 1 for reciprocating movement in the direction of the longer dimension of its cross section and supported on a frame which carries rollers 13. Brackets 19 project downwardly from the tubular member on opposite sides of the support table 1 and have vertical slots 18 in which studs 17 are guided. Endless chains 16 pass over pairs of chain sprockets 14 and 15, one of which is driven so that studs 17, moving with the chains, cause a reciprocating motion of tubular member 11 in the direction of the Chains while studs 17 move up and down in slot 18.

The length of the reciprocating stroke is selected so that in one end position of tubular member 11, rotary member 2 is located at one end of the elongated cross section of tubular member 11, while rotary member 2 is located at the other end of the cross section of tubular member 11 when the same has finished its stroke. The diameter of rotary member 2 corresponds to the shorter dimension of the elongated cross section of tubular member 11, so that rotary member 2 covers the entire cross section of the lower open end of tubular member 11 when the same reciprocates.

Consequently, the substantially circular loops produced by the revolving guide opening 3 and transportating rollers 4 are staggered and laid over the entire cross section of the lower open end of tubular member 11, and as the roving is progressively coiled, a zig-zag-shaped coil is progressively produced, as best seen in FIG. 10, each layer of which consists of slightly staggered almost circular loops. Such a coil cannot turn in relation to the inner surface of tubular member 11 due to the turning moment produced by the rotary member 2.

In all embodiments of the invention, so that the guide openings and transporting rollers 4 cause the laying of almost circular loops. Each newly laid loop pushes the preceding loop in upward direction into the tubular member so that a coiled roving is progressively formed whose upper level rises in the tubular member. When a sufficient length of coiled roving is stored in the tubular member, the machine following the storing device is started and transporting rollers 21 are driven to transport the roving as fast out of the upper end of the tubular member toward the following spinning machine, as the roving is supplied to the lower end of the tubular member by the preceding machine, for example a carding machine.

If differences in the supply and delivery speeds occur, the above described sensing means temporarily stop the machine supplying the roving, or prevent a disturbance .of the operation in any-other suitable manner.

The capacity and volume of the tubular member are best used when the circular loop produced by the rotary member are not arranged in exactly superimposed position as shown in FIG. 2, but are staggered to each other either along a circular path to form a helical coil as shown in FIG. 5, or along a straight path to form a zigzag-shaped coil, as shown in FIG. 10. In order to fill the elongated cross section of the tubular container 11 in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 10, the diameter of the rotary member 2 is an integer fraction of the longer dimension of the cross section of the tubular member, and corresponds to a shorter dimension of the cross section. The driving mechanism of the storing devices as shown in FIGS. 1 and 9 and 4 respectively will be described.

The driving mechanisms of the storing devices 1 and 9 have the same construction, so that the following description refers to both devices.

The rotary member 2 is supported in the stationary frame 1 by means of a ball bearing 32 having a bearing body 33 fitted with a toothed rim on the inside of the stationary frame. Through this toothed rim, the rotary member 2 is driven by a spur gear 36 meshing with the rim and being fixedly attached to the driving shaft 38. The pair of transporting rollers 4 is rotatably supported within the bearing body 33. Two spaced bearing blocks 40 and 42, respectively, are provided in which the driving shafts 44, 46 of both transporting rollers 4 are rotatably mounted. As shown in FIG, 3 meshing gears 50 and 52 are arranged between the bearing blocks 40 and 42, and secured on the shafts 44 and 46, respectively. A bevel gear 54 is mount-ed on shaft 46 outside of the bearing body 33, and meshes with a toothed rim 56 secured to the stationary frame. If the toothed rim 34 of the bearing body 33 and thus the rotary member 2 are rotated by means of the spur gear 36 the bevel gear 54 rolls positively on the stationary toothed rim 56, so that the shaft 46 will rotate. Through a pair of toothed gears 50, 52, the shaft 44 of the other transporting roller 4 will thus be driven in opposite direction, so that the roving 30 is stored in the tubular member 10.

The driving mechanism of the storing device shown in FIG. 4 has a driven toothed rim 62 arranged within the stationary frame 1 and fixedly secured with the rotary member 7 through balls 66, said toothed rim being supported in the bearing body 66 of the rotary member 2 by means of ball bearings. The drive of this toothed rim 62 in thus achieved through a worm gear 68 shown in FIG. 6, which is driven by a driving shaft 74 through a bevel gearing 70, 72.

The bearing body 66 of member 2 is fitted with an auxiliary gear 76 which in turn is driven by a spur gear 86 fixedly secured to the driving shaft 74, the drive being achieved through an intermediate toothed wheel 78. The two transporting rollers 4 together with their shafts 82 and 84- are respectively supported in the bearing blocks 86, 88 within the bearing body 66. The shaft 84 of a transporting roller 4 carries on its end'the driving wheel 90 which meshes with a toothed rim 92 arranged on the carrier 94 of the driven toothed rim 62. The toothed gears 96, 98 arranged on the shafts 82 and 84 and meshing with each other make sure that transporting rollers 4 rotate oppositely when the driving wheel 90 rolls on the inner toothed gear 92 of the carrier 94 as soon as the bearing body 66 is rotated by driving shaft 74 relative to the rotary member 7 which is driven by the worm gear 58.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of apparatus for transporting elongated flexible elements such as rovings differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a storing device progressively forming the lower end of a coil of a roving while the upper end of the coil is delivered to a spinning machine, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications vand structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptions should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to'besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. Storing device for a transported elongated flexible element, comprising, in combination, a stationary tubular member extending in one direction and being open at one end; at least one rotary member located at said open end and being rotatable about an axis extending in said direction, said rotary member having guide means spaced from said axis moving along a circular path within the region of said open end; first transporting means for transporting an elongated flexible element through said guide means so that during rotation of said rotary member said element is coiled and advanced through said open end into said stationary tubular member whereby a length of said element is stored in coiled shape in said stationary tubular member; and second transporting means located at the other end of said stationary tubular member for transporting stored portions of said element out of said stationary tubular member.

2. Storing device for a transported elongated flexible element, comprising, in combination, a stationary tubular member extending in one direction and being open at one end; at least one rotary member located at said open end and being rotatable about an axis extending in said direction; first transporting means including a pair of transporting rollers mounted on said rotary member spaced from said axis and revolving with the same about said axis along a circular path within the region of said open end for transporting an elongated flexible element so that during rotation of said rotary member said element is coiled and advanced through said open end into said stationary tubular member whereby a length of said element is stored in coiled shape in said stationary tubular member; and second transporting means located at the other end of said stationary tubular member for transporting stored poritions of said element out of said stationary tubular member.

3.. Storing device for a transported elongated flexible element, comprising, in combination, a stationary tubular member extending in one direction and being open at one end; a first rotary member located at said open end and being rotatable about a first axis extending in said direction; a second rotary member mounted on said first rotary member for rotation about a second axis parallel to said first axis, said second rotary member having guide means spaced from said second axis moving about a first circular path about said first axis and about a second circular path about said second axis during simultaneous rotation of said first and second rotary members, said paths being located within the region of said open end; first transporting means mounted on said second rotary member in the region of said guide means for transporting an elongated flexible element through said guide means so that during rotation of said first and second membersa helical coil is progressively formed and advanced into said stationary tubular member whereby a length of said element is stored in coiled shape in said stationary tubular member; and second transporting means located at the other end of said stationary tubular member for transporting stored portions of said element out of said stationary tubular member.

4. A storing device according to claim 3, wherein said stationary tubular member is cylindrical; and wherein said first axis coincides with said axis of said stationary tubular member.

5. A storing device according to claim 3, and comprising drive means, said drive means including a first ring gear secured to said first rotary member coaxial with the same; a second ring gear secured to said second rotary member coaxial with the same; and drive pinion means meshing with said first and second ring gears.

6. A storing device according to claim 5, and including an inner ring gear on said first rotary member; and a pinion mounted on the second rotary member meshing with said inner ring gear and connected with said first transporting means for driving the latter.

7. A storing device according to claim a, wherein said first transporting means includes a pair of cooperating transporting rollers, shafts carrying said transporting rollers, and meshing gears on said shafts, one of said shafts carrying said pinion.

8. Storing device for a transported elongated flexible element, comprising, in combination, a non-rotatable tubular member extending in one direction and being open at one end and having an elongated cross section with a longer dimension and a shorter dimension; means for reciprocating said non-rotatable tubular member in the direction of said longer dimension so that said open end moves over an elongated region; at least one rotary member located at said open end and being rotatable about an axis extending in said direction, said rotary member having guide means spaced from said axis moving along a circular path within the region of said open end; first transporting means for transporting an elongated flexible element through said guide means so that during rotation of said rotary member and reciprocation of said tubular member said element is coiled and advanced through said open end into said tubular member in the form of a zig-Zag shaped coil whereby a length of said element is stored in coiled shape in said tubular member; and second transporting means located at the other end of said tubular member for transporting stored portions of said ele ment out of said tubular member.

9. A storing device according to claim 8, wherein the diameter of said rotary member is substantially equal to the shorter dimension of said elongated cross-section of said non-rotatable tubular member; and wherein the longer dimension of said cross-section is substantially twice the diameter of said rotary member.

10. A storing device according to claim 8 and including guide means extending in the direction of reciprocation of said non-rotatable tubular member; roller means on said non-rotatable tubular member engaging said guide means; a member having a slot extending transverse to said direction and being secured to said non-rotatable tubular member; a driven chain loop carrying a pin located in said slot and moving in said direction of reciprocation for reciprocating said non-rotatable tubular member.

/ ii. A storing device for a transported roving, sliver and the like, comprising, in combination, stationary vertical tubular member having an open lower end; a first rotary member located at said open end closing the same and being rotatable about a first vertical axis; a second rotary member mounted on said first rotary member for rotation about a second vertical axis parallel to said first axis, said first and second rotary members having top surfaces located in the same horizontal plane and closing said open lower end of said tubular member; a pair of transporting rollers mounted on said second rotary member spaced finom said second axis and revolving about a first circular path about said first axis and about a second circular path about said second :axis during simultaneous rotation of said first and second rotary members, said circular paths being located within the region of said open end so that during rotation of said first and second members a helical coil resting on said top surfiaces of said members is progressively formed and advanced through said open end in upward direction into said stationary tubular members whereby a length of coiled roving is stored in said stationary tubular member; and transporting means located in the region of the upper end of said stationary tubular member fior transporting portions of said coiled roving out of said stationary tubular member.

12. Storing device for a transported roving sliver and the like, comprising, in combination, a non-rotatable, vertical tubular member having an open lower end and having an elongated cross section with a longer dimension and a shorter dimension; means for reciprocating said non-rotatable tubular member in the direction of said longer dimension so that said open end moves over an elongated region; at least one rotairy member located at said open lower end and having a vertical axis and a guide means spaced firo-m said axis and moving along a circular path about said axis within the region of said open end of said tubular member; first transporting means fior transporting a moving through said guide means so that during rotation of said rotairy member and reciprocation of said tubular member a zigzag shaped coil resting on said top surfiace is progressively formed and advanced in upward direction through said open lower end into said tubular member whereby :a length of coiled roving is stored in said tubular member; and second transporting means located in the region of the upper end of said tubular member for transporting stored portions of said roving out of said tubular member.

13'. Storing device for a transported roving, sliver and the like, comprising, in combination, a stationary vertical tubular member having an open lower end, said tubular member having a circular inner surface, a vertical axis and axially extending circumterentially spaced ribs projecting from said inner surface; at least one rotary member located at said open end and having a top surface closing the same, said rotary member having a vertical axis coinciding with said axis and :a guide means spaced from said axis and moving along a circular path about said axis within the region of said open end of said tubular member; first transporting means for transporting a roving through said guide means so that during rotation of said rotary member a coil resting on said top surface is progressively formed and advanced in upward direction through said open lower end into said stationary tubular member while firictionally engaging said ribs so as to be prevented firom turning movement along said inner surfiace whereby a length of coiled roving is stored in said stationary tubular member; and second transporting means ocated in the region of the upper end of said stationary tubular member for transporting stored portions of said roving out of said stationary tubular member.

14. Storing device tor Ia transported roving, sliver and the like, comprising, in combination, a stationary vertical tubular member having an open lower end; at least one rotary member located at said open end and having a top surface closing the same, said rotary member having a vertical axis and a guide means spaced from said axis and moving along a circular path about said axis Within the region of said open end of said tubular member; first transporting means for transporting a roving through said guide means to that during rotation of said rotary member a coil resting on said top surface is progressively iormed and advanced in upward direction through said open lower end into said stationary tubuiair member whereby a length of coiled roving is stored in said stationary tubular member; at least one sensing means comprising photoelectric means including a source of light located on one side of said stationary tubular member and producing a beam across said stationary tubular member and a photocell located on the other side of said stationary tubular member for receiving said beam and adapted to produce a signal when the upper end of the coiled roving in said stationary tubuiar member passes through said beam; and second transporting means located in the region of the upper end of said stationary tubular member for transporting stored portions of said roving out of said stationary tubular member.

15. Storing device for a transported roving, sliver and the like, comprising, in combination, a stationary vertical tubular member having an open lower end; at least one rotary member located at said open end and having a top surface closing the same, said rotary member having a vertical axis and a guide means spaced from said axis and moving along a circular path about said axis within the region of said open end of said tubular member; first transporting means for transporting a roving through said guide means so that during rotation of said stationary rotary member a coil resting on said top surface is progressively formed and advanced in upward direction through said open lower end into said stationary tubular member whereby a length of coiled roving is stored in said stationary tubular member; sensing means including sensing lever mounted on said stationary tubular member and having a sensing position projecting into the interior of the same and ran actuated position and being shifted between said positions by the upper end of the coiled roving in said stationary tubular member, and a switch operated by said sensing lever in said actuated position adapted to produce a signal when a selected length of said coiled roving is stored in said stationary tubular member; and second transporting means located in the region of the upper end of said stationary tubular member for transporting stored portions of said roving out of said stationary tubular member.

16. Storing device for a transported roving, sliver and the like, comprising, in combination, a stationary vertical tubular member having an open lower end; at least one rotary member located at said open end and having a top surface closing the same, said rotary member having a vertical axis and a guide means spaced from said axis and moving along a circular path about said axis within the region of said open end of said tubular member; first transporting means for transporting a roving through said guide means so that during rotation of said rotary member a coil resting on said top surface is progressively formed and advanced in upward direction through said open lower end into said stationary tubular member whereby a length of coiled roving is stored in said stationary tubular member; second transporting means located in the region of the upper end of said stationary tubular member for transporting stored portions of said roving out of said stationary tubular member; sensing means in the region of the upper end of said stationary tubular member for sensing the position of the upper end of the stored coiled roving in said stationary tubular member; and means controlled by said sensing means for controlling at least one of said transporting means so that the length of the coiled roving in said stationary tubular member does not exceed a selected length.

17. Storing device for a transported device, sliver and the like, comprising, in combination, a stationary vertical tubular member having an open lower end; at least one rotary disc member located at said open end and having a horizontal top surface closing the same, said rotary 'disc member having a vertical axis; a pair of transporting rollers mounted on said rotary disc member spaced from said axis adjacent the periphery thereof and revolving about a circular path having a segment in the proximity of the inner surface of said stationary tubular member within the region of said open end for transporting a roving into said stationary tubular member so that during rotation of said rotary member a coil resting on said top surface is progressively formed and advanced in upward direction through said open lower end into said stationary tubular member whereby a length of coiled roving is stored in said stationary tubular member; second transporting means located in the region of the upper end of said stationary tubular member for transporting stored portions of said roving out of said stationary tubular member; sensing means in the region of the upper end of said stationary tubular member for sensing the position of the upper end of the stored coiled roving in said stationary tubular member; and means controlled by said sensing means for controlling said transporting means so that the length of the coiled roving in said stationary tubular member does not exceed a selected length.

18. Storing device for a transported roving, sliver and the like, comprising, in combination, a stationary vertical tubular member having an open lower end, said tubular member having a circular inner surface, a vertical axis and axially extending circumferentially spaced ribs projecting from said inner surface; at least one rotary member located at said open end and having a top surface closing the same, said rotary member having a vertical axis coinciding with said axis; a pair of transporting rollers mounted on said rotary member spaced from said axis and revolving along a circular path about said axis within the region of said open end for transporting a roving into said stationary tubular member so that during rotation of said rotary member a coil resting on said top surface is progressively formed and advanced in upward direction through said open lower end into said stationary tubular member while frictionally engaging said ribs so as to be prevented from turning movement along said inner surface whereby a length of coiled roving is stored in said stationary tubular member; at least one sensing means comprising photoelectric means including a source of light located on one side of said stationary tubular member and producing a beam across said tubular member and a photocell located on the other side of said stationary tubular member for receiving said beam and adapted to produce a signal when the upper end of the coiled roving in said stationary tubular member passes through said beam; and second transporting means located in the region of the upper endof said stationary tubular member for transporting stored portions of said roving out of said stationary tubular member.

19. A storing device for a transported roving, sliver, and the like, comprising, in combination, a stationary vertical tubular member having an open lower end; a first rotary member located at said open end closing the same and being rotatable about a first vertical axis; a second rotary member mounted on said first rotary member for rotation about a second vertical axis parallel to said first axis, said first and second rotary members having top surfaces located in the same horizontal plane and closing said open lower end of said stationary tubular member; a pair of transporting rollers mounted on said second rotary member spaced from said second axis and revolving about a first circular path about said first axis and about a second circular path about said second axis during simultaneous rotation of said first and second rotary members, said circular paths being located Within 25 rotation of said first and second members a helical coil resting on said top surfaces of said members is progressively formed and advanced through said open end in upward direction into said stationary tubular member whereby a length of coiled roving is stored in said stationary tubular member; transporting means located in the region of the upper end of said stationary tubular member for transporting portions of said coiled roving out of said stationary tubular member; and sensing means in the region of the upper end of said stationary tubular member for sensing the position of the upper end of the stored coiled roving in said stationary tubular member; and means controlled by said sensing means for controlling said transporting means so that the length of the coiled roving in said stationary tubular member does not exceed a selected length.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,939,184 6/1960 Watson 19-459 3,056,433 10/1962 Haugwitz 24282 X FOREIGN PATENTS 3,218,677 11/1965 Switzerland.

M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner.

R. A. SCHACHER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. STORING DEVICE FOR A TRANSPORTED ELONGATED FLEXIBLE ELEMENT, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A STATIONARY TUBULAR MEMBER EXTENDING IN ONE DIRECTION AND BEING OPEN AT ONE END; AT LEAST ONE ROTARY MEMBER LOCATED AT SAID OPEN END AND BEING ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING IN SAID DIRECTION, SAID ROTARY MEMBER HAVING GUIDE MEANS SPACED FROM SAID AXIS MOVING ALONG A CIRCULAR PATH WITHIN THE REGION OF SAID OPEN END; FIRST TRANSPORTING MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE ELEMENT THROUGH SAID GUIDE MEANS SO THAT DURING ROTATION OF SAID ROTARY MEMBER SAID ELEMENT IS COILED AND ADVANCED THROUGH SAID OPEN END INTO SAID STATIONARY TUBULAR MEMBER WHEREBY A LENGTH OF SAID ELEMENT IS STORED IN COILED SHAPE IN SAID STATIONARY TUBULAR MEMBER; AND SECOND TRANSPORTING MEANS LOCATED AT THE OTHER END OF SAID STATIONARY TUBULAR MEMBER FOR TRANSPORTING STORED PORTIONS OF SAID ELEMENT OUT OF SAID STATIONARY TUBULAR MEMBER. 